Standby generator including enclosure with intake opening in rear wall and exhaust opening in front wall

Abstract

A standby generator includes an engine, an alternator, and an enclosure including a base and a number of walls extending from the base including a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall. The standby generator includes an intake opening configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure and an exhaust opening configured to allow heated air and exhaust gases to be expelled from the enclosure. The intake opening is provided on the rear wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A standby generator, comprising:
 an engine including an output shaft: 
 an alternator; 
 an enclosure comprising:
 a base; 
 a plurality of walls extending from the base comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall, wherein the output shaft of the engine extends toward the alternator and the left wall; and 
 a cover coupled to the rear wall; 
 
 a first intake opening configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure; 
 a second intake opening provided on the rear wall configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure; and 
 an exhaust opening configured to allow heated air and exhaust gases to be expelled from the enclosure; 
 wherein the first intake opening is provided on the rear wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall; 
 wherein the first intake opening is configured to allow air to be drawn into the engine and wherein the second intake opening is configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure to cool the alternator; 
 wherein the cover comprises an upper surface pitched away from the rear wall, the first intake opening, and the second intake opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The standby generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first intake opening and the second intake opening are positioned on opposite sides of the rear wall. 
     
     
       3. The standby generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first intake opening is positioned proximate the right wall and the second intake opening is positioned proximate the left wall. 
     
     
       4. The standby generator of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust opening is positioned proximate the left wall. 
     
     
       5. The standby generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first intake opening and the second intake opening draw air into the enclosure in the same direction as an expulsion of exhaust gases from the exhaust opening. 
     
     
       6. The standby generator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an engine intake duct configured to route air entering the first intake opening to the engine; 
 an alternator intake duct configured to route air entering the second intake opening to the alternator; and 
 a muffler exhaust duct configured to route exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust opening. 
 
     
     
       7. A standby generator, comprising:
 an engine including an output shaft; 
 an alternator; 
 a base; 
 a first pair of opposing walls coupled to the base comprising:
 a front wall; and 
 a rear wall; 
 
 a second pair of opposing walls coupled to the base comprising:
 a left wall, wherein the output shaft of the engine extends toward the alternator and the left wall; and 
 a right wall; 
 
 a cover coupled to the rear wall; 
 a first intake opening positioned in the rear wall configured to draw air into the standby generator; 
 a second intake opening positioned in the rear wall configured to draw air into the standby generator; and 
 an exhaust opening positioned in the front wall configured to expel exhaust gases and heated air from the standby generator; 
 wherein the second pair of opposing walls does not include the first intake opening or the exhaust opening; 
 wherein the first intake opening is configured to draw air into the standby generator to cool the engine and wherein the second intake opening is configured to draw air into the standby generator to cool the alternator; 
 wherein the first intake opening and the second intake opening are positioned on opposite sides of the rear wall; 
 wherein the first intake opening and the second intake opening draw air in the same direction as an expulsion of exhaust gases from the exhaust opening; 
 wherein the cover comprises an upper surface pitched away from the rear wall, the first intake opening, and the second intake opening. 
 
     
     
       8. The standby generator of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an engine intake duct configured to route air entering the first intake opening to the engine; an alternator intake duct configured to route air entering the second intake opening to the alternator; and 
 a muffler exhaust duct configured to route exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust opening. 
 
     
     
       9. The standby generator of  claim 7 , wherein the engine intake duct comprises a 90-degree turn to air flow between the first intake opening and the engine. 
     
     
       10. The standby generator of  claim 7 , wherein the alternator intake duct comprises a 90-degree turn to air flow between the second intake opening and the alternator. 
     
     
       11. The standby generator of  claim 7 , wherein the muffler exhaust duct comprises a 90-degree turn to air flow between the engine and the exhaust opening.